Sheriff aids troubled family at his own expense

After he was elected sheriff of Yolo County, Ed Prieto developed the motto “Service Without Limitations” for his department. He abided by it himself earlier this week by helping a family in crisis.

It happened on Tuesday, when a woman with three young children arrived at the county animal shelter in Woodland to surrender their two small dogs. The mother explained they were in search of emergency shelter to escape threats from another family member, and understood that their pets could not accompany them.

But according to sheriff’s Capt. Larry Cecchettini, the two dogs had been prescribed as emotional support companions for the woman’s two youngest children. Furthermore, the family was unsuccessful in finding emergency shelter, despite referrals from Animal Services staff.

Word of the dire situation reached Prieto, who, according to Cecchettini, arranged for the family to stay at a hotel for several days at his own expense, and also gave them meal and travel funds from his own pocket. He also instructed shelter staff to provide animal crates for the two dogs so they could stay with the family at the hotel.

“Once I learned of this family in crisis, I could not turn my back,” Prieto said in a news release. “They didn’t deserve the issues they are being forced to deal with. I’m only grateful that I was made aware of this family’s situation and that I was in a position to help them.”

Cecchettini declined to release the family’s names or other information because of the potential domestic violence investigation involved.